Pump



June 24, 1930. R. L. MEAUX 1,768,130

PUMP

Filed Sept. 19, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l wn'NEsEs R.2{V%9R M M BY M46 i ATTORNEY June 24, 1930. R. L. MEAUX PUMP Filed Sept. 19, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR .L. .fl [eaux ATTORNEY R. L. MEAUX June 24, 1930.

PUMP

Filed Sept. 19, 1928 4 Sfieets-Sheet INVENTOR .L. fll eaua;

ATTORNEY WITNESSES Mfwam MM Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application med September 19, 1928. Serial No. 307,018.

This invention relates to pumps, and has particular reference to certain improvements in rotary high speed pumps of the submerged vertical type, the same being especially useful for irrigation or drainage purposes.

The invention primarily comprehends in a pump of the character set forth an improved impeller or water wheel, the construction of the blades or fins of which functions to obtain a greater lift in proportion to the size of the impeller and the horse power required to operate the same, than has heretofore been secured.

As a further object, the invention contemplates an improved pump of the rotary type in which the impeller shaft bearin s are supported in such a manner as to 0 er a minimum resistance to the flow while serving as a means for preventing churnin or swirling of the fluid being pumped, there y obtaining a maximum efiiciency.

The invention aims as a still further object to provide an improved pump which may embody a plurality of superposed impellers presenting different stages and by virtue of which the fluid may be raised to practically any height.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improved pump of the character set forth, which includes an impeller of the cutter type whereby centrifugal force and its attendant disadvantages are eliminated to all practical intents and purposes.

The invention further embodies an improved rotary pump by virtue of which an extremely high operating speed may be obtained and sustained by virtue of the manner in which the impeller and its shaft are mounted in bearings which resist and minimize vibration.

The invention further embraces means for eliminating the entrance of water to the bearin or the escape of lubricant therefrom.

(l ther objects of, the invention reside in the comparative simplicity of construction of the ump, the economy with which it may be pro uced, operated and serviced and the gen- 60 eral efliciency derived therefrom.

With the above recited and other objects in view, reference is had to the following descr ption and accompanying drawings, in which there is exhibited one example or embodlment of the invention, while the claim defines the actual scope of the same.

In the drawings: 1

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a pump constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a lan view of the impeller.

. Figure 3 is a ragmentary plan view of the impeller illustrating one of the fins or blades.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view take; approximately on the line 44 of Figure Figure 5 is a similar view taken approximately on the line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional View takeii approximately on the line 66 of Figure Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view take; approximately on the line 7-7 of Figure Figure 8 is a detail sectional view taken apgroxlmately on the line 8-8 of Figure 6.

igure 9 is a vertical sectional view of an auxiliary or additional impeller unit which is employed in connection with the ump where more than one stage of lift is required.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view illustrating an intermediate impeller shaft hearing which is interposed between superposed impellers where more than: one stage of lift is required.

Figure 11 is a detail sectional view taken approximately on the line 1111 of Figure 10.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the pump includes a bowl designated generally by the reference character 15, which bowl is made up of superimposed sections 16 and 17 having mating flanges 18 which are connected by bolts 19. The u per 95 end of the bowl section 16 is formed wit an internally threaded boss 20, with which the lower threaded end of a discharge pipe 21 is threadedly engaged. The upper end of the discharge pipe 21 is threadedly engaged-j 100 .in the lower end of a combined pump head and elbow 22, the said head and elbow defining a lateral angularly disposed outlet portion 23 having a flange 24, to which a d1scharge pipe may be bo ted. The combined head and elbow 22 is provided with an upstanding neck 25 which is formed with a vertical aperture 26 through which an mpeller shaft 27 extends. A suitable packing gland 28 is formed in the neck to prevent leakage of the water or fluid from the pump head through the aperture 26 around the impeller shaft 27. The neck 25 is formed with an upwardly extending portlon 29 wh1ch 1s recessed at 30 to receive a double row radial ball bearing unit 31 and the under s1de of the neck extension 29 is provided with a packing gland 32. The neck is formed with an open portion 33 whereby access may be gained to the packing glands 28 and 32 for the purposes of adjustment or re-packlng. A bearing cage 34 is seated upon the neck extension 29 and is bolted or otherwise secured thereto. The bearing cage 34 is recessed at its upper end at 35 to receive a combined radial and thrust ball bearing unit 36 held in place by a retainer 37. An inverted cup shaped pulley 38 is secured to the upper end of the impeller shaft 27 for turning movement therewith and to impart turning movement thereto from any suitable source of power. An adjusting nut 39 threadedl engages the upper end of the impeller sha t for purposes of adjusting the same as required. It will be observed that the inverted cup shaped ulley covers, conceals and houses the bearings 31 and 36. The combined pump head and elbow 22 is exteriorly threaded at 40 adjacent its lower end to receive a foundation plate 41 which is adapted to be bolted or otherwise secured to a support 42. g

The upper section 16 of the pump bowl is provided with a bearing hub 45 whichis centrally supported by means of spider arms 46 and which bearing hub is further provided with a suitable bushing 47 through which the im eller shaft extends. The impeller or wheel esignated generally by the reference character 48 is secured on the shaft 27 directly below the bearing hub 45 and the same consists of an, annular arm 49 and a hub 50 connected by fins or blades 51 which are disposed at an angle or pitch which gradually increases outwardly from its juncture with the hub to its juncture with the rim. It will also be observed that the fins or blades 51 are of the same width throughout their length with the trailing ed e 52 of each fin or blade extending radially %rom the axial center of the impeller while the leading edge 53 is disposed at a tangent. The blades are so arranged that their outer ends are not overlapped while the inner ends are disposed in overlapping relation. It Wi l th s be observed that the rim, hub and blades or fins define therebetween slots or passa s 54 which have a varying itch and whic have divergent entrance an exit mouths due to the fact that the blades are streamline in cross section, that is, are thicker intermediate of their width and gradually taper to a knife edge at their opposite side ed es.

The lower pump bowl section 17 is ormed adjacent its upper end with radial inwardly projecting spider arms 57 the upper edges of which are disposed closely adjacent the imeller 48. The spider arms 57 support a ball bearing unit 58, the housing 59 of which is sealed against the entrance of water or other fluid being pumped orthe egress of lubricant, by means of packing glands 60 and 61. Lubricant may be supplied to the ball bearing unit 58 by a lubricant conduit 62 which extends outwardly through the pump bowl and leads upwardly to a convenient oint. It will be further observed that the spider arms 57, as well as the spider arms 46, are streamlined in cross section, that is, said arms are provided with upper and lower knife edges, for the purpose of ofl'ering a minimum resistance to the flow of the fluid. In addition to performing their function of supporting the bearing hub 45 and ball bearing unit 58, the spider arms 46 and 57 serve in the capacity of means for preventing churning or swirling of the column of fluid, particularly adjacent the impeller, thereby making for the maximum efliciency in the action of the impeller upon the fluid being pumped. The lower end of the lower pump bowl section 17 is provided with a flange 63, to which is adapted to be bolted the flange 64 of an intake pipe 65 threaded or otherwise engaged in the flange 64 and which pipe leads down through the fluid to be pumped, or if desired, connects with the housing 66 for an intermediate ball bearing unit 67 where a subterposed impeller unit or units are to be employed for obtaining different stages of lift. In such instances, the lower end of the pipe 65 is provided with a flange 68 which is bolted or otherwise at tached to the housing 66. The housing 66 is in turn connected at its lower end with a pipe or casing section 69 leadin downwardly and connected to the upper end of the upper bowl section 16 of the pump bowl 15 which is provided with the additional or auxiliary impeller 48 constructed practically identical with the pump bowl 15 previously described. For, the purpose of conveniently adding or subtracting additional impeller units for a plurality of stages, the impeller shaft 27 includes sections 27 which are connected thereto by means of couplings 70 which are of a type which will insure proper and accurate axial alignment of the sections 27 with the uppermost section 27. The ball bearing unit 67 is supported in the housing 66 by radial spider arms 71 which are stream-lined.

The construction of the housing 66 is such as to ofier the least ossible resistance to the passage or flow of t e fluid being pumped.

It is, of course, to be understood that the volume or ca acity of the pump is dependent upon the ang e or pitch of the impeller blades or fins and that variations thereof will correspondingly cause a variation in the volume. This, obviously, permits the impellers to be chan ed for the purpose of accomplishing a definite object. It is also to be understood that the im ellers will be rotated at a high rate of speed and that the lowermost impeller 53a submerged in the body of fluid to be 1 What is claimed is:

In a pump, a casing, an axially extending rotary shaft and an impeller secured thereto for rotation therewith, said impeller including a hub, a rim and radiating blades of the same width throughout their len h and gradually increasing pitch from t e inner ends to the outer ends, the trailing edge of each of said blades being disposed in radial alignment with the axial center of the im- Bzller and the leading edge of each blade ing disposed out of radial alignment with the axial center of said impeller.

ROBERT L. MEAUX. 

